Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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I need some advice

4evertryingtoimprove
4evertryingtoimprove

I originally posted this in a different support group, but that group doesn't get a lot of traffic and I figured my problem greatly affects me in terms of adding anxiety. 

Hey, everyone, I'm an 18-year-old male currently standing at a whopping 5'4. (If I'm standing straight as a pole) I have lived my life always being the small guy, and I have to say it has really affected my mental state. I feel so inferior to people because physically I'm literally looked down upon. It makes me want to shut myself in and never come out. i always held out hope that I would grow since middle school. I dreamed of being 5'7, but unfortunately, that never happened. I feel really bad because I started weightlifting at like 12 (Not hardcore, but still), I started wrestling my 8th-grade year of middle school, and I started having sleeping problems my sophomore year of high school. I have this strong fear that I may have caused my current short height, and that thought really eats me up. I often pause what I'm doing throughout the day to ruminate over my height and how it affects how people look at me. 
I tend to fall into some periods of really bad mood and insecurity. I even dislike being around my family, because my dad has a good 3 inches on me and that makes me wonder why I didn't grow to his size, It makes me feel robbed. I only stand over my mom by about 2-3 inches and that makes me extremely insecure. My brother is catching up and he's like 1-2 inches shorter than me. My height honestly makes me feel deformed and an automatic outcast. I try to keep up a positive attitude, but it's so hard when it's in front of my face every single day. 
I understand there are people who are even shorter than me, and that I should be happy that I'm not any shorter, but that logical statement doesn't really resonate in my bones. My emotions overpower it and I end up feeling terrible. Maybe I'm just taking all my problems in life and attributing it to this one factor, I don't know. I accept that I'm probably not going to get any taller. All I want... is a little support. 
I appreciate anything anybody has to say.

Maw99
Maw99
Remember You Are Very Special Not Matter How Tall You Are, Besides Remember Good Things Come In Small Packages..You Are Loved
Community LeaderMid
Mid
Your height is a number, just a number.
Take a moment to assess what exactly you consider your height to be as a part of the whole person. You've taken the important first step in revealing the information.
As a short person, I'm well aware of the mechanics of making my self seem larger than reality through use of voice, strong appearance(practice in front of mirror until you are comfortable with your stance), and being confident of myself, just as I am.
You will gain respect for your self as you practice confidence in appearance. It takes practice, determination, and courage. Wrestling builds muscles which help you to display your strength in appearance.
Make the best of your height in every single way. Be proud of your height and carry yourself with confidence (it does work!).
Please know you are not alone in this!
Minidogs2
Minidogs2
Trying to encourage you as a man who battles different problems. Try thinking of yourself as unique person who has been created the right way including your height and personality and abilities. Everyone has things they are struggling with. Certain people appear to have things altogether but they don't. try to stay busy doing your best and refuse to be stopped by certain feelings and thoughts that are negative. As long as you do your best you're going forward. Healthy people will accept you as you are without worrying about your height.
ScaredKat
ScaredKat
Its okay to be short. I am also short. I always appreciated it because I liked being able to fit in small places, but I completely understand frustration behind it. I once dated someone who was a lot taller than me and almost everyday this person would comment on how short I was, and it was meant to be endearing or to fill the silence when they didnt know what to say but it was really annoying and made me self conscious about it. But I've realized that there really is nothing wrong with being small, you just have to figure out your own ways to make yourself big. Have a big heart, and a big brain. Have a big voice with your own opinions and just make your presence big with confidence
Restful
Restful
What truly matters in this world is what kind of person you are. My whole family is short, but they are also strong and confident with big hearts. You sound like a really nice person, and that is what other good people will see.
UghFeelings
UghFeelings
Hi forevertrying, I'm the female in a set of male/female fraternal twins. I stand at about 4'10", and my twin brother is about 5'3". I certainly understand that the dynamic is a little different for women, but my brother struggled with the same issue. He's actually spoken about this before, and said that the more pressure and thought he put into it, the more it would seep into other parts of his life (personal relationships, career, etc.), and cause huge anxiety. He said that once he accepted that that was what he had to work with, and stopped putting so much pressure on himself, he noticed that things started to fall into place. His insecurities with women faded, he became much more confident at work. As his confidence increased, it seemed that his height became insignificant. Of course, he always has the friends that make the occasional joke, but he just shrugs it off. He's a pretty successful guy - great career, a wife, and two kids. And loving life. I hope this was helpful, and I hope you're able to realize all that you've got going for you!
4evertryingtoimprove
4evertryingtoimprove
I appreciate everyone's comments. UghFeelings, I see where you are coming from, I remember a point in my senior year of high school where I was just having a good time and I rarely thought about my height. Somewhere, I started paying massive attention towards it. I'll try to do the same, and try to accept my current height and not worry about it any longer.
Moo0290
Moo0290
Hi!

We all have our insecurities, I have definitely come to realise that since being a member of DS. Whether we are tall, short, curvy, skinny, dark haired, no haired or covered in acne. Every person has their battles to face, and I think we sometimes forget that the person we are standing in front of (and worrying about their judgement) is often feeling the same to us.

Your friends and family love you for you, the person you have become and will also go on to be. Its just learning to love and accept yourself, which can often be the hardest thing but you are only 18 and have an exciting life ahead of you to live :) don't let it hold you back
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